Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-07-23

Interesting Scientific Facts About
Our Soil and Water.
By r G. Duncan NJ. d.

Our Soil and Water.
By T. G. Duncan MD.
The natural history of the peculiar for
nation of Dakota is, as near as geolo-
gists a unrayel the mystery of the
formation, supposed to be as
follows "The infant continent of North
America as it rose above the primeval
waters was supposed to be in the sea-"
(Winchell.) Finally the Rocky noun
and the Alleghan,es were thrown
up walling in the glaciers that subse-
quently plowed down from the up
heaved north, grinding of the fertile
part of the new continent and deposi-
ting this with other drift e this Da-
kota region, which would account for
trees being buried under clay, gravel,
sand, soil and other debris This whole
Mississippi Valley was, as is supposed,
again submerged at the close Of the glac-
ial area, and again to rise, and was, un-
til quite recently, u series of shallow
lakes. AT least this is the recent view
Of the origin of the many prairies. In
to these lakes the water Of the surround
ing country was drained. The sedi.
ment shape of a Tough triangle, with
one extremity reaching above Wlnni.
peg, and the other way off beyond Que
bee, while the junction was about the
union of the lakes Superior and Huron ;
at least the Oldest discoveries of Laur-
entian rocks are among these lines. AS
the portions of the south and west rose
gradually out of the prehistoric ocean,
we can understand that this ocean con-
tanned the wealth of the early sediments.
Biologists have arrived at the conclu-
sion that the entire area of the United
States and territories was, during the
lower silurian age, the bed of compar-
itively shallow broken rock, glacier deb
rice and rank vegetation of the long ages
gave a saline character to these lake
waters. Where they were shut in like
Salt lake they became ven more brack-
ish than the ocean," Sea water may be
regarded as the accumulation of all the
the surface drainage of the EARTH"
brandy Dakota at this time was un-
%doubtedly a vast lake, with its present
underlined limits. 1t doubtless extended
from the north to the extreme south of
the territory, even into Iowa and Ne
braska, and from central Minnesota on
the east to the Missouri river Or beyond.
This vast lake received the wealthy
washings from virgin soil all around un.
til finally the water became decidedly
brackish. The saline ingredients under
went many changes, but much was de-
posted in the sediment at the bottom.
1t is we'll known that water, especially
the saline, forms q precipitate. The lakes
began to over flow and the Dakota and
James rivers on the south, and the Red
river or the north drained this vast ex-
panse and luxurious grasses took pos
session Of this lake bed with its heavy
deposit of organic matter, and it became
the home of the buffalo, Indian and
prairie fires.
Such in brief seems to be the natural
history of this wonderful section. Here
the history of Dakota differs from that
of other prairies.
The lands east of the Mississippi have
had their saline ingredients washed out
and carried away to the ocean or under
ground, and are now being tapped at
Saginaw and other salt works. Dakota
retains her valuable saline ingredients,
chiefly I judge, on account Of the deep
loan, numerous irregular strata of clay,
and the level character of the surface.
y X
The soil is evidently a glacial drift de.
post, and, like portions of Switzerland,
is filled with vegetable matter many
feet deep. There are no distinct layers
o! clay. sand Or gravel.
The soil will prove inexhaustible,
and when the surface is unproductive
deep sub-soil blowing will rejuvinate it
by bringing to the surface valuable sa-
line soil.
The rolling land will therefore prove
as valuable as the lower levels, while
the low swales a be rendered produce
tive by draining OF by boring fer several
feet down. The fact that pockets o.
sand, gravel, clay and alluvial depos'
it are mixed, and the stumps of trees
found thirty feet below the surface,
shows that the soil is something won,
derful. 1t will interest students in geol.
ogy and those interested in continental
formation, to visit this wonderful
country.
When w come to study the soil waite,
of Dakota, we shall see that this sol
composition is undoubtedly very favor.
able 10 absorption and retention Of
moisture, Sulphuric acid, as is well
known to all chemists, absorbs moisture
rapidly from the air. An open vial par
TALLY filled with sulphuric acid will soor
absorb enough water from the air tc
over flow the vial. With these facts be
fore him the agricultural chemist would
pot be surprised that a soil rich in sui
pilates and containing salt would absorb
and retain such moisture,
Tho foot fhof oai,., of tho Ia loo :. A.